CHAPTER 40

The air in Bay City felt heavier than usual, charged with an unspoken tension that rippled through the towering skyline. The war between Darwin Solomon and William Newton was no longer confined to boardrooms and whispered threats—it had spilled into the streets, the headlines, and the very fabric of their lives.

Fiona sat at the café across from Thalassa, stirring her tea absentmindedly. Her mind wasn’t on the warm liquid or the bustling café around her. It was on the man who had forced his way back into her life. Darwin’s words from the night before still echoed in her head.

"Then I’ll prove it, Fiona. I swear to you, I’ll prove it."

She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that he was capable of change, that he was willing to fight for something beyond his empire. But believing had cost her too much in the past.

“Stop overthinking,” Thalassa’s voice cut through her thoughts. “You look like you’re about to unravel that tea with your mind.”

Fiona sighed. “I don’t know what to do, Thalassa. Part of me wants to run again. The other part...” She hesitated, pressing a hand to her stomach. “The other part knows I can’t. Not anymore.”

Thalassa leaned forward, lowering her voice. “Then stop running. Darwin is going to fight for you whether you like it or not. The question is, are you going to fight back?”

Fiona swallowed. “Fight back against what?”

Thalassa’s gaze hardened. “Against William. Against Bella. Against everyone who wants to control your narrative. You have the power to shift the tides, Fiona. But you have to stop letting fear hold you hostage.”

Fiona exhaled, her fingers tightening around the teacup. She had spent too long being reactive, too long being a pawn in someone else’s game. Maybe it was time she played to win.

---

Darwin’s First Move

Darwin stood in his office, staring out at the city below. He had built his empire from the ground up, brick by brutal brick. And now, someone was trying to take it all away.

Lucas entered without knocking, urgency written across his face. “Sir, it’s worse than we thought. William isn’t just spreading rumors. He’s making moves with the investors. If this continues, you could lose control of your company within weeks.”

Darwin’s jaw tightened. “Then we stop him.”

Lucas hesitated. “We have a counterstrategy, but it requires something… unconventional.”

Darwin turned. “What is it?”

Lucas slid a file onto his desk. Darwin flipped it open, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the contents. Inside was evidence linking William Newton to financial fraud, embezzlement, and backdoor dealings with foreign investors. If this got out, William wouldn’t just lose credibility—he’d lose everything.

Darwin’s lips curled into a slow, predatory smile. “Leak it.”

Lucas hesitated. “Are you sure? If this gets traced back to us—”

“I said leak it.” Darwin’s voice was firm, unwavering. “William started this war. I’m going to end it.”

Lucas nodded and exited the room, leaving Darwin alone with his thoughts. He had built his world on power and control, and he wasn’t about to let someone like William Newton tear it down.

But as he glanced at his phone—at Fiona’s name flashing on the screen—he realized there was one battle he wasn’t sure how to win.

With a steady breath, he picked up.

---

The Unlikely Proposal

Fiona hadn’t expected him to answer so quickly.

“Fiona,” Darwin’s voice was low, careful.

“I need to see you,” she said, ignoring the way her heart pounded at the sound of his voice. “Now.”

A pause. Then, “Where?”

“Thalassa’s apartment.”

“I’ll be there in ten.”

Fiona hung up before she could second-guess herself. She had made her decision. Now she had to see it through.

When Darwin arrived, he looked different—tense, but determined. His usual air of control was intact, but there was something else in his eyes. Something she couldn’t quite place.

Fiona didn’t waste time. “We need to make a deal.”

Darwin frowned. “What kind of deal?”

“One where we both win,” she said, meeting his gaze. “I want to go public.”

His brows lifted slightly. “Public?”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “I want to take control of the narrative. If we announce the pregnancy on our terms, we strip William and Bella of their power to manipulate the story.”

Darwin studied her, his expression unreadable. Then, he took a step closer. “And what do you want in return?”

Fiona swallowed hard. “I want to be involved in the decision-making. Not just as the mother of your child, but as an equal.”

Darwin’s gaze darkened. “You think I see you as anything less?”

“I think you’re used to making decisions for people, not with them,” she countered. “If we do this, I need to know I have a say. I won’t be a pawn in your world, Darwin.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “You were never a pawn, Fiona. You were always the queen.”

Fiona’s breath hitched, but she held her ground. “Then prove it.”

Darwin studied her for a long moment. Then, finally, he extended his hand. “Alright. We go public. Together.”

Fiona placed her hand in his, sealing the deal.

---

The Fallout Begins

The news broke like wildfire.

“Darwin Solomon and Fiona Carter: Expecting a Child Together?”

“Power Couple or Corporate Scandal? The Untold Story of Solomon & Carter.”

“William Newton’s Strategic Attacks Backfire as Solomon Strikes First.”

Within hours, the headlines shifted. Public interest turned toward their relationship, forcing William into a defensive position.

Bella, furious, stormed into William’s office. “You said she was finished!”

William clenched his jaw, tossing a newspaper onto the desk. “She’s smarter than I gave her credit for.”

Bella’s fists clenched. “Then we hit her where it hurts.”

William’s eyes darkened. “I already have something in mind.”

---

The Calm Before the Storm

That night, Fiona sat on her balcony, staring at the city lights. The world knew now. There was no turning back.

Darwin appeared beside her, holding two glasses of wine. He handed her one, studying her in the dim glow of the skyline.

“You handled yourself well today,” he murmured.

Fiona exhaled, her fingers tightening around the glass. “This is just the beginning, isn’t it?”

Darwin nodded. “William won’t take this loss lightly.”

Fiona turned to face him fully. “Then we’d better be ready.”

A small smile played on Darwin’s lips. “We?”

Fiona met his gaze, unwavering. “Yes. We.”

For the first time in a long time, Darwin felt something unfamiliar.

Hope.

And for the first time, Fiona wasn’t running.

She was standing her ground.